What will Virginias’ Outdoor Classroom look like?
Due to the pandemic, our 2020 calendar was cancelled in its entirety. As we plan the 2021 season and beyond, we wanted to give you a clearer idea as to what steps are being taken to ensure your Outdoor Classroom experience is safe and enjoyable.
These steps are being shared to give you a sense of our plans at this time, several months away from your arrival. The time for formal procedures and plans for testing, screening and more will come as the 2021 season approaches. Please know that we will share those procedures with everyone concerned. We will also take all relevant guidance from the American Camping Association, our local health department, the CDC, and your school districts’ policy. For the time being, this page represents a work in progress and changes will be made as we learn more, discuss program options with staff and teachers, and develop healthcare plans with our health center staff. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions related to any of these points.
Cabin Capacity
Cabin capacity has been reduced to 10 students per cabin, down from 14-16 campers which allows us to space beds 6 feet apart. Natural ventilation and movement of air in cabins is already excellent thanks to screen windows every few feet, screen door and cool temperatures as a result of our fresh mountain air!
Health Screening
Students will have to present negative Covid-19 test in hand from the past 72 hours. Once at camp we will perform daily screening and temperature checks to ensure the ongoing health of our camper population. We will have a plan in place to quarantine any camper or counselor exhibiting a high temperature or typical symptoms. We also have access to a rapid test facility in nearby Marlinton, WV.
Dining & Meals
We are fortunate to have a large dining hall with extensive seating inside and several tables outside on the porch. Tables inside will be spaced accordingly to allow 6 feet of space between campers that are not in the same cabin. The grass area leading up to the dining hall will also be utilized for lunch as always and for other meals too if necessary. It is our intention to still offer 2 meal seatings to preserve the daily camp schedule as best we can. Our chefs are also busy becoming familiar with Covid-19 related food handling policies and best practices.
Cabins as an Activity Group
Our daily schedule provides for our activity groups which are mixed gender by school to go out during the day to their classes. For the time being we are revising this policy and activity groups will travel and learn as cabin groups. This will allow students to remain in a ‘bubble’ during their time at camp.
Sanitizing & Cleaning
Everyday hygiene and healthy practices are already such an important part of a communal living situation such as summer camp. Our health center staff always remind campers to wash hands, stay hydrated and look after themselves in general. These reminders will now also include daily temperature checks as well as self-screening for Covid-19 symptoms. Mandatory hand washing protocols will be introduced between activities and hand sanitizer will always be readily available at all locations around camp.
Regular cleaning and sanitizing of common touch-spots such as door handles, equipment, restrooms, and water fountains will be carried out by a specific team of staff. All these same areas will undergo a thorough cleaning and disinfecting process before any new school group arrives.
Our health center staff will also help us establish guidelines and protocols in case of a suspected outbreak. We will share these plans with school before arrival.
Staff & PPE
Our staff will do what is necessary to maintain a safe environment for everyone. This will mean wearing PPE when working students and staff from our visiting schools and being aware of who they interact with when they are not working.